Loved You Once But He's My Forever

Chapter 577 Star Return To The Sky

Anna knew he wasn't the type to mess around with her feelings.

After being locked up for so many years and trying countless times to escape without success, hearing him suddenly say she was free felt unreal-like something out of a dream.

Taylor gently brushed his fingers against her cheek. "You won't have to see me again. Go live your own life. I'm sorry for ruining it."

Even though he said those things, Anna couldn't fully believe him. It all seemed too suspicious—like he still had something up his sleeve.

It wasn't until the following day, when Taylor truly let her go, that Anna finally felt grounded again.

But almost instantly, another fear crept in-what if he had planted some kind of tracker inside her? No matter how far she ran, he could still find her.

She might never be free of his grasp.

So when Taylor asked, "Anna, can I have a hug?"

She didn't respond-just turned her back to him and walked away.

He suddenly pulled her into an embrace from behind, his voice hoarse and trembling. "You really are cold, Anna."

Guilt flickered in her heart for a moment, but before she could react, he had already let her go. "Take care of yourself," he said quietly. "Go on now-don't come back."

Chloe guided her toward the boat. Once it had sailed some distance, Anna stepped into the cabin-only to find her father alive and waiting.

He was lying to her.

Chloe handed her a small vial, saying it was from Taylor. Once she drank it, all her memories would fade away.

Taylor had brought up this potion before, but back then, Anna couldn't bring herself to forget everyone at the Sanders.

Now, he wanted her to take it-to erase the memory of who he was.

He hadn't hidden a chip on her—this time, he genuinely meant to disappear from her life.

Anna rushed to the deck, scanning the pier for any trace of Taylor, but he was nowhere to be seen. Still, deep down, she was certain he was watching from somewhere nearby.

He once told her she was the rose he'd nurtured with his own hands.

With how deeply he loved her, how could he possibly let her go now, of all times?

Unless he had something even more important than holding on to her love.

Tears streamed down Anna's face.

Chloe asked if she was still going to take the potion, but Anna quietly shook her head.

She wasn't ready to erase the memory of him. She never wanted to forget. Remembering his final words, Anna felt as if a weight had lifted.

Was she truly free now?

She sat curled up on the deck for what felt like hours, hugging her knees and lost in thought. Eventually, Chloe reappeared, draping a coat over her shoulders and gently repeating Taylor's last few words and wishes.

her then—she had really walked away from

going home-to the Sander residence she had dreamed of for so

falling apart, having Greg, her parents, and Chloe still alive

by her parents and breathe new life into

into the courtyard where she'd spent her childhood, it

trees had grown tall and leafy, casting shade over

still hung in its place, freshly painted, but in her mind, it swung with echoes of laughter from the days when her

hand and guided her back to the home where she'd

let her live in

days at the Bolton residence, barely showing up at the Sander residence, which had allowed the

album, paintings she drew

flipped through each memory,

felt comforting to be

her heart feel like there

because she wasn't used to it yet; time would eventually heal all

returned to

she wanted to change her name, believing that since she

name should reflect

Not Anna, not Alice.

on, she would go by

the sky, numbers fade away, and

A fresh start.

be no more Taylor, nor the painful memories; life was still long, and she had to move

the appearance of being calm, but at night, the dreams always

dream,

crowns behind her back, he taught her

in a passionate embrace.

"Taylor!"

called out his name as she woke

around-empty. That familiar warmth, the arms that once held her, was

hand moved to her chest, where a seed had long ago been planted, now quietly

of potion, her

one sip, and all of it-every

through her mind, again and again, until

herself to do

become a part of her, as natural and necessary

chugging the water like she hadn't had a sip in days. It was just thirst,

as she wiped her tears, they kept falling on their own. She

that she'd eventually move on that time would

the thought kept haunting her: Taylor was really gone. No calls,

the

had become nothing

ground, gazing up at the moonlight

only

matter how lost Anna felt each night, by morning she'd mask it